冷沂

Charles Dickens

查理斯．狄更斯（Charles Dickens, 1812-1870）為英國維多利亞時期的大文豪，作品普受世人的歡迎，且對英國文學的發展有著深遠的影響，是19世紀英國寫實主義文學的主要代表。 在狄更斯年少時，父親曾因債入獄，致使狄更斯被送去當學徒，這段經歷讓他備嚐艱辛與屈辱。但也因為這樣的經歷，狄更斯擅長於描繪英國中下階層的社會，深刻反映出複雜的社會現實。狄更斯位於西敏寺的墓誌銘，適足傳達此一精神特色，其寫著： He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world. 他的心，與窮人、受苦的人和被壓迫者同在； 他的謝世，令世界失去了一位偉大的英國作家。 狄更斯勤於筆耕，著作等身。其代表作包括《孤雛淚》（Oliver Twist）、《小氣財神》（A Christmas Carol）、自傳性題材的《塊肉餘生錄》（David Copperfield）、《艱難時世》（Hard Times）、《雙城記》（A Tale of Two Cities）、《遠大前程》（Great Expectations）等。1870年，狄更斯不幸病逝，享年58歲。 Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was the most famous English novelist of the Victorian era, and his tales are still popular today and form an important part of English literature. Dickens spent his life writing. His stories reflected his childhood and contributed to the social reform of 19th century Great Britain. His most famous novels are The Adventures of Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, and A Tale of Two Cities.